Capsella bursa-pastoris (Shepherd's Purse) - photos and description
Stem leaf with auricles
Pods triangular in shape
Leaf underside showing starry hairs
Patch of many plants
Origin: Introduced.
General: Annual weed with a single or branching stem.
Foliage with hairs joined in the middle and starry hairy, the starry hairs I found difficult to view with a loop, was easier for me to see zooming in using my photo software.
Flowers: Tiny, white, terminal. The inflorescence elongating with age. We measured a flower at 3 mm diameter.
Fruit: A triangular pod, its shape is used to
identify the plant, and give it its common name. A pod was measured
at 6 mm long by 4 mm wide.
Leaves: Basal leaves in a rosette, vary from deeply
cleft to wavy margins. Stem leaves are sessile, alternate, the stem
leaves have auricles, and are reduced in size upwards. We measured
basal leaves at 9 cm long by 22 mm wide, and stem leaves at 38 mm
long by 10 mm wide.
Height: We measured plants to 35 cm tall.
Habitat: Disturbed soil, gardens, waste ground.
Abundance: Common.
When and where photographed: Photos taken June 1st in a park and an alleyway in our neighbourhood in Regina, SK.